RAD AF Podcast

About RAD AF

“Radical” [rad-i-kuhl] adj. noun = favoring, supporting, or representing reforms and change; a person who holds strong convictions, advocates fundamental reforms by direct methods. 

Rad AF (Radical AF) is a podcast that amplifies stories of Long Beach area women who are radical change-makers, community organizers, grassroots movement builders, and leaders who give a f*ck about mobilizing people-power to make positive change in the community, especially to support the health and wellbeing of people regardless of their race and income.

It’s time to recognize the “Radical” among us. These are the folks who come together when it’s time to demand the People’s Budget and call for the Mayor and electeds to defund the police in our city. They are present in the planning and delivery of Long Beach Rising! Leadership trainings. You can find them preparing signs and bringing friends to May Day car caravans and marches. You can hear and see them at Public Comment sessions at a school district board meetings and City Council sessions. They are all around us, and likely inside of us.

Radicals represent reforms and change for the people, by the people. They hold strong convictions close, and advocate for fundamental transformation with direct action–often putting their minds, bodies, and spirits on the line for true justice. The RAD AF podcast honors this spirit.

When women succeed, we all succeed.

Episode Recaps

RAD AF Episode 4: Meet Mary Duong

(Recorded November 2022, Published Jully 2023)

In Episode 4 of RAD AF, meet Mary Duong, also known at Rev. Thiên Ân (Mary) Duong, M.Div., who is the Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church of Maywood and the Faith-Rooted Organizer (Associate) with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). 

Listen in and get to know Mary, how she got started, how she overcame the challenges of the oppressive systems in her birth country, and how she has continued to embody her faith while fighting for liberation for others. 

Learn more about Mary’s work with CLUE:

 
A book Mary recommends: Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World by Rev. Alexia Salvatierra and Peter Heltzel.
 
RAD AF is a podcast by Long Beach Forward that amplifies the stories of our Long Beach area radical change-makers. This episode also features Long Beach Forward’s Melissa Morgan and Diana Martinez.
 
Episode and Theme Music produced by: Daniel Arón Speer
 

Listen:

RAD AF Episode 3: Meet Audrena Redmond and Naida Tushnet

(Recorded August 2022, Published August 2022)

Meet local and legendary Long Beach community organizers – Audrena Redmond, long time organizer, working on campaigns and organizing in labor, community and an organizer with Black Lives Matter Long Beach. And meet Naida Tushnet, a long time organizer around political actions and the peace movement. Listen and get to know both women, how they got started, how they’ve been able to stay motivated working to move others into political action and listen to their stories on the challenges and the wins. 
 
Learn more about:
  • Black Lives Matter Long Beach https://www.blmlbc.com
  • On social media:
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklivesmatterlbc
    • IG: https://www.instagram.com/blmlbc/
    • Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/blmlbc/
 
 
 
  • Long Beach Area Peace Network www.lbapn.org
  • On social media on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LBAPN
 

 


 
Book Recommendations for organizing:
 
Naida Tushnet:
  • “Rules for Radicals” by Saul Alinsky
 
Audrena Redmond:
  • “A People’s History of the United States of America” by Howard Zinn
  • “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander
  • “Blood in My Eye” by George L. Jackson

 


 
RAD AF is a podcast by Long Beach Forward that amplifies the stories of our Long Beach area radical change-makers. This episode also features Long Beach Forward’s Melissa Morgan and Diana Martinez.
 
Episode and Theme Music produced by: Daniel Arón Speer
 

 

Listen:

RAD AF Episode 2: Meet Gaby and Jamilet from the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition (LBIRC)

(Recorded 5/2022, Published 7/2022)

Listen in to Long Beach Forward’s second episode of the RAD AF podcast. RAD AF amplifies the stories of Long Beach area radical change-makers. In Episode 2, meet Gaby Hernandez and Jamilet Ochoa with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition (LBIRC), recorded in May 2022. They share their experiences on their journeys to discovering the power they possess, as well as the power they help to build with women in their community around immigrant rights and other social justice issues.

Learn more about LBIRC at www.lbirc.org and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok at @LBIRC562.

RAD AF is a podcast by Long Beach Forward. This episode also features Long Beach Forward’s Melissa Morgan and Diana Martinez. Support our work at www.lbforward.org/donate

Episode produced by: D-Rang3D

Listen:

RAD AF Episode 1: Meet Lian and Joy from Khmer Girls in Action

(Recorded 3/2021, Published 3/2022)

Meet Lian Cheun and Joy Yanga from Khmer Girls in Action (KGA) in Episode 1, recorded in the spring of 2021. They share their stories about working in the Bay area, how they met, how family and culture impacted them individually, as well as recall their experiences growing up as girls in their cultures. Today they are instrumental in leading powerful grassroots organizing with young women in the Long Beach area.

Learn more about KGA at www.kgalb.org and follow on Facebook and Twitter: @kgalb and on Instagram: @kgalongbeach

RAD AF is a podcast by Long Beach Forward. This episode also features Long Beach Forward’s Melissa Morgan and Diana Martinez.

Episode produced by: D-Rang3D

Listen:

Resources